1.
SUM
The SUM function is the first must-know formula in Excel. It usually aggregates
values from a selection of columns or rows from your selected range.
=SUM(number1, [number2], …)
Example:
=SUM(B2:G2) – A simple selection that sums the values of a row.
=SUM(A2:A8) – A simple selection that sums the values of a column.
=SUM(A2:A7, A9, A12:A15) – A sophisticated collection that sums values from
range A2 to A7, skips A8, adds A9, jumps A10 and A11, then finally adds from A12
to A15.
=SUM(A2:A8)/20 – Shows you can also turn your function into a formula.
2. AVERAGE
The AVERAGE function should remind you of simple averages of data, such as the
average number of shareholders in a given shareholding pool.
=AVERAGE(number1, [number2], …)
Example:
=AVERAGE(B2:B11) – Shows a simple average, also similar to (SUM(B2:B11)/10)
3. COUNT
The COUNT function counts all cells in a given range that contain only numeric
values.
=COUNT(value1, [value2], …)
Example:
COUNT(A:A) – Counts all values that are numerical in A column. However, you
must adjust the range inside the formula to count rows.
COUNT(A1:C1) – Now it can count rows.
4. COUNTA
Like the COUNT function, COUNTA counts all cells in a given rage. However, it
counts all cells regardless of type. That is, unlike COUNT that only counts numerics,
it also counts dates, times, strings, logical values, errors, empty string, or text.
=COUNTA(value1, [value2], …)
Example:
COUNTA(C2:C13) – Counts rows 2 to 13 in column C regardless of type. However,
like COUNT, you can’t use the same formula to count rows. You must make an
adjustment to the selection inside the brackets – for example, COUNTA(C2:H2) will
count columns C to H
5. IF
The IF function is often used when you want to sort your data according to a given
logic. The best part of the IF formula is that you can embed formulas and functions
in it.
=IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
Example:
=IF(C2<D3,“TRUE”,”FALSE”) – Checks if the value at C3 is less than the value at
D3. If the logic is true, let the cell value be TRUE, otherwise, FALSE
=IF(SUM(C1:C10) > SUM(D1:D10), SUM(C1:C10), SUM(D1:D10)) – An
example of a complex IF statement. First, it sums C1 to C10 and D1 to D10, then it
compares the sum. If the sum of C1 to C10 is greater than the sum of D1 to D10,
then it makes the value of a cell equal to the sum of C1 to C10.
6. TRIM
The TRIM function makes sure your functions do not return errors due to extra
spaces in your data. It ensures that all empty spaces are eliminated. Unlike other
functions that can operate on a range of cells, TRIM only operates on a single cell.
Therefore, it comes with the downside of adding duplicated data to your
spreadsheet.
=TRIM(text)
Example:
TRIM(A2) – Removes empty spaces in the value in cell A2.
7. MAX & MIN
The MAX and MIN functions help in finding the maximum number and the minimum
number in a range of values.
=MIN(number1, [number2], …)
Example:
=MIN(B2:C11) – Finds the minimum number between column B from B2 and
column C from C2 to row 11 in both columns B and C.
=MAX(number1, [number2], …)
Example:
=MAX(B2:C11) – Similarly, it finds the maximum number between column B from
B2 and column C from C2 to row 11 in both columns B and C.
